Maine/New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia
On the Road: New England and the Canadian Maritimes
Program No. 19585RJ
From Portland, Maine, to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, explore unique ecosystems, maritime history, idyllic villages and world-famous cuisine with local experts.
Participant Reviews
Based on 32 Reviews
SHOWING
Our Roads Scholar experience offered numerous opportunities to learn! Every aspect of the trip was covered. I highly recommend using Roads Scholar. We have already chosen two more upcoming trips! This was our first tour, and you did not disappoint.
— Review left September 27, 2025
This was a busy, educational experience with lots of opportunities for learning in varied locations, mostly coastal, in Canada and the US.
— Review left September 17, 2025
Carla the leader was excellent and helped us understand all the sites on this trip. She is OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT and if I could rate her higher I would. She is the perfect leader for Road Scholar. The driver Cindy was excellent and a careful diver and handled some difficult situations well. This was a great tour and good experience. But it is only for those in good shape and who mix well with others.
— Review left September 4, 2025
Fantastic program. Every day was an adventure. Food was excellent. Got to eat lots of seafood including lobster, scallops, oysters and shrimp. Got to eat popovers at Jordon Pond in Acadia. Lots of fun step-on guides one step-danced for us on the bus, another who wore a kilt for our tour, another enthusiastic guide Dean Martin at the Penobscot Narrows Observatory and Fort Know was amazing.
— Review left September 4, 2025
This program covered a vast area with historically and aesthetically significant stops throughout. It was extremely informative and well planned and paced. We were lucky to have good weather with minimal disruption from wildfires. The leader, Jim Fitch, was very knowledgable enthusiast, energetic and attended to our needs. I especially enjoyed learning the Canadian history and how it relates to the USA. It exceeded my exectations!
— Review left August 31, 2025
This is a great trip to Maine, New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia. We covered a lot of different areas in the two weeks and learned a lot about the people, the culture, and the geology. People of differing physical abilities were able to keep up with the pace.
— Review left August 30, 2025
I went on the Maine-Canadian Maritime trip to escape summer heat, and I came away with a new appreciation for the rich history, culture and people of this area. Plus, enjoyed very fresh seafood!
— Review left August 27, 2025
This excellent program starts and ends in the US and covers the similar areas of Maine and the Maritimes, such as the fishing and boating industries. The history of the Acadians is especially interesting and the stories of explorers, families coming to this difficult new world, and the endless conflicts between the British, French, and even between colonists in the Maritimes and the future US colonies were often new to me though I thought I had a good background in this history.
— Review left August 23, 2025
Outstanding trip with magnificent venues - 5 Star adventure- would recommend this trip without hesitation
— Review left August 21, 2025
Well planned itinerary, accommodations, and included meals. Best way to travel! Would not have seen as much on my own. Fun to meet new people from all over the states and our Canadian neighbors! Beautiful country!
— Review left July 15, 2025
The On the Road: New England and the Canadian Maritimes program was fantastic and seems like a great value for the money because of the great accommodations, tours, lectures, and food.
— Review left July 5, 2025
During this 15 day trip, we traveled in a comfortable motor coach for over 2,000 miles...a little too many miles per day for me. I did enjoy all the places we visited, however. My favorite stops included: 1-Roosevelt Campobello Island International Park, where we visited Roosevelt's summer cottage and listened as enthusiastic presenters told fascinating stories about Eleanor's and Franklin's lives. 2-Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews with its unique sculptures and wide variety of plants was a place I hated to leave. 3-Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck; Peggy's Cove outside of Halifax and of course, 4- beautiful Acadia National Park. Our group leader was a wealth of information and FUN!
— Review left January 1, 2025
Nothing tops the view at night of the Panobscot River Bridge from the Fort Knox Park Inn! Well maybe the scallops at Digby, NS. Then there was the beautiful garden at Halifax. Did I mention the Grand-Pre National Historic Site or the Pier 21 Immigration Museum, or the chowder at the Merchantman in Charlottetown?
— Review left October 21, 2024
This trip was one we had hoped to do for several years, and it exceeded our expectations! Excellent guide, lots of learning activities every day, easy walking, natural beauty everywhere especially in mid-September, delicious seafood, and very comfortable accommodations.
— Review left October 12, 2024
What a wonderful trip! Advertised as a “keep the pace”, I was expecting more hikes or long walks. At any rate my, high point was Campobello. The beautiful grounds and homes warranted a longer stay. And the history! The Bay of Fundy and Hopewell rocks were well worth the trip. I would recommend Prince Edward Island to anyone looking for a jewel on the east Atlantic.
We lucked out with wonderful weather most days.
Regarding the food, which is always good and plentiful, the high points were Campabello and anywhere we ate anything on Prince Edward Island. I would have enjoyed more of a continental breakfast with yoghurt and cereals and fruit rather than eggs most mornings.
Lodgings ran the gamut of good to very good. Especially my favorites At Campobello, Delta in Saint John and Atlantic Oceanside in Bar Harbor. However the hotel at Bucksport was not as up to date and very basic.
I cannot say enough about our driver Walter White and our guide Jim Fitch. Both handled the scholars with humor, dignity and fun. We will remember them for years after the trip. Always going and doing the extra mile. Thank you gentlemen.
Looking forward to more trips with Road Scholar.
Shannon
— Review left July 3, 2024
I do not recommend this program. I would suggest alternative programs that fly to the main area and then travel by bus. This program was way too much driving with very little of interest along the way. The bus driver was rude, grumpy and crabby most of the time at least to us.
The guide was new to this program having only guided this program once before. The guide was more interested in promoting his Cuba tours rather than concentrating on the Maritimes.
The hotels were inferior. One which the guide agreed was a dump. Some long walks to go to the breakfast location at some stops. The lodging facility did not offer breakfast.
We have been on many many tours never having experienced such poor quality accommodations, food and guiding. Very disappointing trip.
Very poor quality program for Road Scholar.
— Review left October 27, 2023
My trip to New England and the Canadian Maritimes fulfilled my desire to see this part of Canada. I was amazed to see a region that went far beyond my expectation of small fishing villages to include vast wilderness, big cities, and extensive farmland.
— Review left October 5, 2023
The Road Scholar New England and Canadian Maritimes program was great. We got a whirlwind (literally) tour of the area and met many interesting people in the process.
— Review left September 30, 2023
I highly recommend this program to learn and experience the Canadian Maritimes. You'll feel like you are walking in a picture. The people you meet are welcoming and interesting to speak with.
— Review left September 29, 2023
The New England and Canadian Maritimes Trip was my first Road Scholar trip and I cannot think of enough adjectives to describe how wonderful it was! Our leader Mary McGovern was top notch & each day was a new adventure full of fantastic scenic views, lectures, tours, meals and fun. Yes, fun! 30 seniors learning, sharing,
laughing and having fun!
— Review left September 19, 2023
This trip was wonderful. I got to see all the things that were on my bucket list and a whole lot more. Our group of 29, plus our terrific leader, Mary, and awesome driver, Joe, made it a very enjoyable trip. I loved seeing Fundy Bay at high and low tides, Peggy’s Cove, the immigration museum, Alexander Graham’s Bell Museum and seeing Acadia National Park. I highly recommend this trip, but be prepared for a lot of bus riding.
— Review left September 8, 2023
the trip was excellent & I would not hesitate to recommend this program to anyone interested in the described agenda. thank you !!
— Review left June 24, 2023
Very disappointing, Only 3 stays of 2nights, the rest single nights. Poor accommodations and food for the majority of the trip. It appeared that there had been no investigation of lodging and food options since the pandemic.
Trip Leader often lacked energy and precise information and left me behind at one stop, causing difficulty and trepidation.
Very poor value for the money as well as getting a sense of the Maritimes.
— Review left January 10, 2023
Our program had to change due to the storm in Nova Scotia. They did a great job rerouting us to cover as much as we could. Always learning things with the local guides.
— Review left October 5, 2022
Enjoyed sharing the program with fellow travelers.
— Review left October 3, 2022
This was a interesting mix of natural power and beauty, with the history of shipbuilding industry and historical impact of various immigration and domination by the different countries who settled this coast. The program has quite a lot of time on the bus, but the group leader, Nancy, and the bus driver, Joe, made that a pretty pleasant part of the trip. Lots of seafood is offered on the limited 4-choice menus we were offered, but most of it was fried. That pleased many on the trip, but wasn’t appealing to a healthy eater.
— Review left September 26, 2022
Wonderful trip.
— Review left September 12, 2022
We enjoyed this tour very much!
— Review left September 10, 2022
The Canadian Maritime/Maine trip was awesome could do it again!
— Review left August 20, 2022
If you have never been to Maine or this part of Canada, this is your opportunity to experience all the natural beauty and history, foods and culture. You will be safely driven many miles and get to sit back and enjoy all that coastal Maine and the Maritimes have to offer. The days are long and start very early but are jam-packed with wonderful sights and experiences to behold.
— Review left July 2, 2022
The amount of learning was incredible, and it was done in comfortable increments. The Road Scholar experience is probably not right for everyone, but it hits the target for those that want to learn about the places they visit.
— Review left October 4, 2019
If you have an opportunity to travel with guide Linda Mancini and driver Joe Blair, the combination is thoroughly entertaining, well organized, and safe.
— Review left June 20, 2019